He didn’t have to leave his neighborhood to come to college, but he found a new home and appreciation for Lipscomb as a Bison Baseball player. David Costello sat down this week with LipscombSports.com and told us about his favorite teachers, his thoughts looking back at his time on campus, one brush with law enforcement, his favorite teammates and professors, and much more. It’s an interesting story, and we think you’ll enjoy it …

What years did you compete for Lipscomb? 

I played baseball from 1988 to 1990 and was coached by Ken Dugan and Al Austelle.

What teammates were most memorable? 

I have good memories of many teammates, but the two Lawrenceburg boys, Brent McNutt and Dwayne Snider, and then Raymond Harvey (a former teammate at David Lipscomb High School) are the first who come to mind.  Those three were not only the best athletes I’ve ever been around (hope McNutt doesn’t read this as he already has a big head), but even better men. Seriously, I traveled to Lawrenceburg every chance I got to hunt, fish, or just hang out with Brent or Dwayne and their families, and was I introduced to a simpler, better way of life that I still hold dear to this day. Unfortunately, we lost a legend of a player and a man when Raymond passed away a little over three years ago.  For the record, I beat McNutt fishing in his own pond!

What degree did you earn? 

Somehow, Lipscomb let me escape with a Marketing and Finance degree in 1992.

Why did you attend Lipscomb? 

Being a “Lipscomb Lifer” (I attended Lipscomb from kindergarten through 12^th grade), I said I wanted to go anywhere but Lipscomb to college. I was somewhat of a rebel by Lipscomb standards (or maybe any standard).  But in reality, I loved the school, the people, and I loved my hometown.  Plus, my mother was sick with multiple sclerosis (she passed in 1991) and I wanted to stay close to her.  My girlfriend, Ellen Hill – who would later become my wife – was a year behind me at the high school, so she obviously was a huge influence in my college choice.  When I was offered a chance to play baseball for a legendary coach, all those factors added up to becoming a Bison.

What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb? 

My mother wasn’t able to come to many games, but one game she attended I hit a walk-off grand slam down the right field line to win the game.  Yes, it was only 302 feet down the line and there was a 20 mph wind blowing straight out, but nevertheless, it was a moment I still recall and smile.

Who influenced your athletic career at Lipscomb? 

In a weird way, I’d have to say Charlie “Chico” Hale, the assistant coach at the high school, had the strongest influence in my Lipscomb career.  I had been cut my freshman year in high school, didn’t try out my sophomore year, but then gave it another shot my junior year.  Ernie Smith, the head coach, was busy winning a state championship in basketball, so he seldom came to tryouts.  Chico went to bat for me and Ernie put me on the team.  We went 32-2 that year and won the state championship; my confidence skyrocketed from there.  So, without Chico believing in me, I would have never seen a baseball diamond past the 8^th grade. 

What do you remember about Lipscomb campus life during your time here? 

Oh goodness, you may not want complete honesty here!  Look, I like to have fun, live a little dangerously, laugh, and try to make others laugh.  So, I really wasn’t one to attend many late-night Bible studies while in school, although I should have.  But I did attend many late-night fishing expeditions at Radnor Lake (surely statute of limitations clears me by now).  That is until state and federal law enforcement almost caught me and a friend (I’ll protect his identity, but I may have mentioned him in an earlier response) at 2:00 AM one morning, and we had to jump in the water with only our mouths out for breathing. It was like a scene from Rambo, and thankfully, the police eventually gave up and left.  

As far as memories “on campus,” the 7^th floor at High Rise was an adventure each night. Our activities ranged from trying to dodge golf balls as we all tried to hit 2-irons down the hall without touching anything, dodging arrows while different guys practiced their deer hunting skills down the halls, or just playing made-up games with any type of ball every night.  The games are too numerous to list, but they were all serious enough that fights broke out most nights over rules and results (remember, we didn’t have cell phones back then – we were very creative). 

What is the most valuable lesson you learned in your time at Lipscomb? 

I’d say looking back, the value of being in the family.  The community at Lipscomb is something special that I just don’t think you can get at many schools.  Some may notice it right away, but for me, it took a while after graduating to understand that fully, but it’s true.  Of course, I know much has changed in the last 25 – 30 years, but I’m sure that’s one thing that hasn’t changed. 

Who were your favorite professors? 

My freshman year, Paul Prill was a speech or communications professor who made us do a speech that emphasized grabbing the attention of the audience in the first minute.  One of the students in our class gave a speech on the dangers of tobacco, and without saying a word, opened his speech by reaching into his coat pocket, pulling out a Marlboro, and firing that sucker up.  Paul was so impressed he gave the student an “A”, and I thought he was really cool for just laughing it off and rolling with it. 

I always enjoyed George Boulware because he was kind of a smart aleck, like me, and always had a wisecrack or two each day that kept class light and fun. 

Dot Eubanks was a favorite who (I assume) had to finally roll her eyes and look the other way to allow me a big head start and finally pass her 10-key and typing class. I had failed it probably four times. 

And finally, Marlin Connelly is a member of my personal Hall of Fame for allowing us, for the better part of a semester, to keep confusing Lipscomb’s current athletic director, Philip Hutcheson.  Philip, probably one of the smartest people on the planet – then and now – couldn’t figure out a simple third-grade level word association game, and Dr. Connelly let us frustrate him all semester. 

Where did you grow up? 

Nothing too interesting here: I grew up in Green Hills in the shadow of the school.  I’m what they call a unicorn these days – someone who was born, raised, and never left Nashville … and I don’t plan to leave ever!

What do you do now? 

I’m a business banker in Nashville for First Citizens Bank, headquartered out of Raleigh, NC.

Tell us about your family:  I married the same girl I dated throughout high school and college, Ellen (Hill), and we live in Franklin, Tennessee, just south of Nashville.  We have 3 kids – Kate, who is a junior at UT studying accounting and international business; Trip, who is a freshman at UT, majoring in undecided right now but leaning toward business; and finally, Jean, who is a sophomore soccer, basketball, and softball player at Franklin High School. 

FAST FINISH

• Favorite Food:  Shogun (or any hibachi grill place) – creamy chicken and shrimp.
• Favorite TV show or movie:  Breaking Bad and No Country For Old Men
• Favorite Bible scripture:  Matthew 6:1 – “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
• Favorite sports team:  Detroit Tigers. My personal email (below) will only make sense to true Tigers fans.
• Pet peeve:  Judgmental people and, like my favorite verse warns against, those who do good just to get attention or to get something in return. 
• Person I most admire:  Three of them: my wife Ellen (the best person I know), my father David Costello Sr., and my father-in-law Bob Hill. 
• Person I’d most like to meet:  He’s my Lord and Savior – Jesus!
• Ride or Drive?  I don’t ride…period.  Got to drive.
• Pick one – salad or dessert:  Neither, but just about everything in between.
• Dream vacation spot:  St. Andrews, Scotland – playing Old Course with my dad and son. 
• Early morning or late night person?  Late night 
  
  

You can reach David by email at sparkyin84@gmail.com (personal) or David.costellojr@firstcitizens.com (business), and connect on Facebook (David Costello).